At the YMCA, we believe ALL children deserve the opportunity to discover who they are and what they can achieve. The health and safety of each and every child in our care is our top priority. Our staff are trained on comprehensive and innovative practices around child safety to ensure your children the best experience while in our care. The trust that you, as parents and guardians, place in the YMCA to care for your children is important to us and we do not take that trust for granted.
Safety & Quality Matters
To monitor overall program quality, the YMCA uses the nationally recognized, validated instrument, the Youth Program Quality Assessment (PQA) tool, which is designed to measure the quality of youth programs and identify staff training needs. The tool is used to assess in the following areas:
- Safe and supportive environment
- Staff and youth interaction and engagement
- Youth- centered policies and practices
Results from each site assessment are used to identify areas of success and identify opportunities for improvement through a continuous improvement plan. Follow up training is available to staff based their individual professional skills and competencies. The Y was an early adopter of this program and has been a part of the United Way of Greater Houston Quality Improvement System for 5 years.
Our programs are licensed by the Texas Department of Family Protective Services childcare licensing regulations. These regulations are designed to reduce the risk of harm to children while they are in before and after school care.
During unannounced visits, DFPS personnel ensure that all Y programs adhere to childcare minimum standards.
Well-Trained Staff
At the Y, we work to ensure your children have a safe, fun filled experience in all of our programs. Children learn values, positive behaviors, to respect themselves and others, work out differences, and discover the value of friendship. We are committed to providing a safe atmosphere of learning that helps develop self-confidence and builds character through promoting our core values of caring, honesty, respect, responsibility, and faith, all in an inclusive environment. Our team members serve as partners with parents, working together to help kids grow up healthy, happy and strong.
All staff must:
- Pass a thorough background check process including: FBI Fingerprints, National Child Abuse Registry and National & State Sex Offender Registry
- Drug tested
All staff are trained in:
- Child Abuse Recognition and Prevention
- CPR and First Aid Certification
- Communicable Disease Management
- Additionally, all staff must complete a minimum of 30 clock hours of professional development annually
“Ebony had such a good time at YMCA Day Camp last summer, she didn’t want to come home and said if she could, she would go all year long. She loved the variety of activities she got to try – especially singing their House chant, swimming, reading time, and archery. She made lots of friends and loved the staff. The program has helped her stay active and engaged during the summer months, and she’s made plenty of wonderful memories too.” – (Lorainne, Ebony’s grandmother)